Shoe



Aug. 20, 1935. w FRENCH 2,012,188

SHOE

Filed Aug. 10, 1934 WITNESSES mvemon WEm'awF eNc/z Z64? u BY WQRNEY 3 I,ing.

Patented Aug. 20, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvement in shoes and particularly to animproved construction for permitting a laced shoe to be readily appliedand removed without molesting the lac- The object of the invention is toprovide an improvement inlaced shoes which involves a constructionadapted to permit the opening of the shoe so that it may be applied orremoved without adjustment of the lacing.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a laced shoe auxiliaryfastening means and lever mechanism for securing a desired tensionto theshoe as the fastening means are moved to interlocked position. I

A further object, more specifically, is to provide an improved shoewherein extending flaps are provided which will extend to the lower partof the shoe or beneath the shoe, and which are associated with fasteningmeans and fulcrum means for securing a tension immediately before thefastening means function.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a side view of the shoedisclosing an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing one of the flapsswung back for better illustrating the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through Fig. 1, approximately on the line3-3;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modifiedform of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, I indicates the shoeas a whole, provided with the usual parts which make up a shoe,including a sole 2 and a heel 3, There are also provided flies 4 and 5,the fly 4 being of'the usual construction, while fly 5 is of a specialconstruction specific to the invention. These flies are secured togetherby suitable lacing 6, the lacing being applied through the eyelets inthe usual manner and then tied with a knot to hold the flies together.

In laced shoesff. the kind shown in Fig. 1 it is customary to u ilacethe shoe in order to remove the same,-and later on to relace the shoeafter the same has been applied to the foot. For quickly applying andremoving the shoe this lacing and unlacing retards the operation.According to the present invention means have been provided whereby ashoe of conventional shape and appearance "is presented and means forquickly loosening the flies so that the shoe may be quickly applied andas quickly removed.

In forming the fly 5 an extension 8 is provided (01. se5o) suppliedwith, for instance, a sockets for receiv- .ing the stud l carried by thequarter II. The

Ill form what is commonly socket 9 and stud known as a snap fastenerand, if desired, the stud could be applied to the extension 8 and thesocket to the quarter 1 I. This snap fastener is mounted in a positionto hold the fly 5- in correct position so that when the lacing 6 isfirst applied it may be drawn tight and the shoe caused to fit the footproperly. After this has been done and the knot 1 formed, the lacing isnever molested but the snap fastener isengaged or disengaged accordingas the shoe is to be applied or removed. When disengaged the parts maybe swung over to the position shown in Fig. 2, or partly to thisposition, whereupon there is sufficient looseness or opening to permitthe wearer to apply or remove the-shoe. The stud Ill may be fastened toa metal plate I! or only secured to the leather. However, the metalplate I! is embedded in the quarter H and held therein by cement ormerely by friction, as the hook portion l3 extends through the quarterat a desired point spaced from the stud I0.

The hook I3 forms a fulcrum for receiving the lever M, which lever is inthe form of a ring with part held in place by a. small section l5 ofleather which is stitched in place. Section I5 is also pierced by thesocket 9 thus providing reinforcing of the socket as well as a holdingmeans for the ring l4.

After placing the foot in the shoe the parts are moved over to theposition shown in Fig. 3 with part of the ring I4 interlocked with thehook l3. The outer end of section 8 is then swung over, which willnaturally swing the ring over and the ring at this time will act as alever for pulling the fly 5 tightly by the time the socket 9 reaches thestud Ill over which it snaps. After this has been done the shoe may beworn in the usual manner.

When it is desired to remove the shoe the lace is left in knottedposition and the lower edge is grasped and swung to the position shownin Fig. 3 and then swung a little further. to disengage the ring fromthe hook l3, after which the parts may be swung to the position shown inFig. 3 and the parts will be loosened so that the foot may be easilyremoved. This provides a structure which will permit a shoe to bequickly removed and at the same time present to the ordinary observer .ashoe of the usual construction.

that the lever i6 is a perfectly straight bar having an eye foraccommodating the fulcrum H which may be a staple or other securingmeans, and a small section of leatli" stantially identical with see ionl5. However, the fly 5' in this form o1 the invention is provided withan extralong extension 8' so that the stud ill of the snap fastener maybe arranged at the center of the bottom of the sole, or further overthan the center from the side occupied by the fly 5'. It will beunderstood that the socket 9' will be correctly positioned in theextension 8' to snap over the stud it when the fly 5' has been broughtunder the desired tension by the lever l8. Aside from the partsspecifically mentioned the remaining features are identical to thoseshown in Fig. 3, and the same numerals will apply. It will also i5 whichis sub-,

be understood that the flaps or extensions may be made on one side, asshown in the drawing, or on the opposite side, that is either at theright or the left according to the demands 0! the public.

I claim:-

In a device of the character described, a fly having an extension,disengageable fastening means for securing the extension to the body ofa shoe, a plate having a hook carried by the body of the shoe andpositioned near said fastening means, and a ring carried by saidextension positioned so that it may engage said hook and act as a leverfor moving the extension as the disengageable fastening means arebrought into interlocked relation.

WILLIAM HORACE FRENCH.

